Preventing Complications of Central Venous Catheterization

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Abstract
In the United States, physicians insert more than 5 million central venous catheters every year.1 Central venous catheters allow measurement of hemodynamic variables that cannot be measured accurately by noninvasive means and allow delivery of medications and nutritional support that cannot be given safely through peripheral venous catheters. Unfortunately, the use of central venous catheters is associated with adverse events that are both hazardous to patients and expensive to treat.2-4 More than 15 percent of patients who receive these catheters have complications.5-7 Mechanical complications are reported to occur in 5 to 19 percent of patients,5,6,8 infectious complications in 5 to 26 percent,5,7,9 and thrombotic complications in 2 to 26 percent.5 In this review, we explain methods for reducing the frequency of complications in adult patients.